Paul has run PokéJungle Network for 10 years. He started the site on free hosting while he was in middle school, but now maintains it on a dedicated server. He recently graduated college with a major in Communication Studies focusing on journalism and a minor in Japanese. He resides in Tokyo, Japan and enjoys eating curry daily.

Ken Sugimori, primary illustrator: I really struggled the most with the Water-type [starter] this time.
Yusuke Ohmura, illustrator: There was talk of, “Wouldn’t a sea otter be good for the Water starter?” But it was a really close decision in terms of what this sea otter would become once it evolves. In the end, we decided to have it evolve into something with a completely different appearance.
Sugimori: Of course, we want to make the starters into Pokémon that remain with the player throughout the game, so we hope to make them evolve into creatures that offer a surprise to the player. We always make an effort to throw in some twists and create third-stage evolutions that have an impact.
Ohmura: There was also talk this time about dividing the three starters into Japanese, Western, and Chinese styles of design. Tsutaaja was based on Western design, and Pokabu was rooted in a Chinese style, so I was told, “Let’s make Mijumaru into a more Japanese-style design.” Someone even asked, “Can’t you make Mijumaru into a samurai?” [laughs]
Everyone: [laughs]
Sugimori: I worried about it for a while, and I eventually went to go see the sea otters at the aquarium. I happened to catch the sea lion show while I was there, and I became aware of the sea lion’s power. “Well, let’s try blending a sea otter and a sea lion,” I thought. I came up with the idea of making the shell on Mijumaru’s stomach into a sword (katana) and using it to fight, and that’s how I completed Mijumaru and its evolution.”

pokejungle

That’s interesting. I mean… mijumaru’s third that we saw had a horn… not a sword…

That fake doesn’t even have knees. And if it did, they’d be covered with shells. COME ON.

ok

The rest of that seems to point to the starters being real though. Maybe he’s just referring to shell blade?

PD

But its different and is most likely based on a sea lion… which they said :b
Also yeah that fanart the other guy posted shows the possibility :3

Seress

Yes, so I believe the evos are fake. *whispers, THANK GOD*

Niels

That’s just f-ed up if the starters are real

BOB

Is that real if so i guess it confirms that for me

Uyi

Teh thing is, that final evo ain’t no Samurai. It certainly is an impact. How is Pokabu Chinese? Tsutarja Western?
Anyway, I guess it’s time to accept all these Pokemon PokeExperto, curse you, is leaking. It’s the typings that I thoroughly detest though. I pray he’s lying about those. Should I actually pray? I will

First thing I thought when I saw them was king-snake, chinese pig and weird thing with samurai-moustache so I’d say they fit.

Uyi

Your points are all well and good but what a wasted opportunity, You’re doing a Samurai Otter, make it Fighting Type!

Belmad

Maybe it’s a fighting type. We don’t know it yet.

Uyi

True. That’ll be different, almost awesome. I’m actually liking it now xD

BUT stupid PokeExperto says it’s just Water :K

Belmad

I wonder what he will say about that.

Belmad

What is the thing on left in first image?

Typhlonruxs

It’s Yannapu

ok

Yanappu.

Belmad

Is it black or?

ok

It’s green, it’s just a dark image.

Belmad

Ah, ok

Ryuutakeshi

Well, that’s that. I’ll just have to see it in game. I’d have preferred Miju to be bipedal with shell fans or a shell sword, but this works I guess.

Melchior

My source confirms that we need Kriffix or someone else with sufficient Japanese linguistics skills to look at the source and determine whether or not it says what the OP thinks it does.

Serebii also confirms.

Belmad

Stop it.

Melchior

My source confirms that you’re mad.

Also, stop what? I’m just saying that it’d be cool if PJ posted this in an update after his team took the time to translate it themselves and make sure we’re not being dooped.

Ryuutakeshi

I’ve had others look at it already. No one has disagreed.

BOB

Um serrbi didnt confirm anythng idiot

BOB

Melchoir ur such a troll

Melchior

How am I trolling?

My source has confirmed that I’m definitely not a troll. I’m just excited about B/W like everybody else and I’m tired of all the fake stuff that the Spanish attention seekers are passing off as legitimate.

Ryuutakeshi

You know, I’m so going to post my “I knew it” video in reply to one your posts when you turn out wrong.

Ryuutakeshi

You being Melchior

Melchior

Good thing the only chance you’ll get to do that is the day the game comes out and a few hours after while all of the information leaks.

And I’ll be playing the game, so feel free to try to “I told you so”

3llaw

“my source says you are mad” “my source says i am not troll”
well you nknow what, my source says that your just a 10 year old kid trying to be cool and look smart! will you stop that?
hmmf, “my source” at least mention your source!

BOB

melchoir sukkkkks.No 1 cares if u have the game have the game
when it comes out so will a million other people

http://misted-moon.deviantart.com LoneStarAkira

Wow, that’s really neat! O: Definitely gives much more evidence that the starters we’ve seen are real. I’m happy, I like ‘em. IDK about anyone else. xD

Ai

Here’s a random thought. He said he was impressed with a Sea Lion’s power, not saying anything about his appearance. Is it possible that it could look like a sea otter… but, say, have a sea lion’s power?

Ai

Oh… and he specifically says that he uses the shell like a KATANA… from what I’ve seen, the horn on the final evos head looks nothing like a katana. In fact, he’d have to use it as a mace or something.

Niels

Idk why, but one of the host from Pokémon Sunday looks a bit like Hitler :S Don’t really like that idea. I mean, with that face he makes for the animated him, and that “moustache” it just looks like him :S

BOB

Lol I thought that 2

Peter

Man I cannot escape the Hitler on Pokemon Sunday crap anywhere I go, please people for once in your life be oblivious to that fact.

BOB

Shooti looks mean but i still hope their is a pokemon snap 2 :]

David

I just thought of something, Maybe the anime gets a reboot too, like pikachu’s back to square 1. (No powerplant thing from Kanto)

Uyi

This.

Melchior

I hope so. Pikachu’s been overpowered since the beginning of season 1 and for no reason at all.

You have big brother in america? :O
They’ve finally decided to axe it here, thank god

Uyi

I hated ours, it got stale. But Nikki FTW! That’s why I started watching the American one xD

Belmad

Miju’s final should be Water/Fighting since Ken Sugimori states Miju’s evo is based on samurai and it’s using shell to fight. I really don’t understand.

BOB

Now that i know the mijumarus evo is based after a sealion and that mustache is its whiskers
it doesent seem bad I like it more now.But i thought Pokabu was going to be fire/fight?

BOB

Maybe the shell on its back is really a huge sword and he holds it with his mouth.
IDK

Belmad

According to Pokexperto Pokabu is Fire/Fİght Miju is pure water.

And i’m questioning this, why?

ok

Fighting type is more “martial arts” so a fighting type samurai kinda wouldn’t make sense actually.

Uyi

lolwut? o_O

^I finally used that xD

ok

You know, kicks and punches. Using your body to fight. Not a sword.

Uyi

Oh, pof course. That explains why it could be monotype :/

Belmad

Swordmanship, especially using katana is ranked as martial arts.

ok

Oh, all right then. At least you get what I mean, right?

Belmad

Yes, i get it. I agree on using body, but i think that using sword is actually using body. It is based on how you move, how you are able to control your body and sword. So i still think it should be fighting.

ok

Actually I suppose you’re right in a way. Just remembered Gallade kinda uses a sword, and Pokexperto also mentioned some fighting types with weapons. (Yes, I know we still don’t have proof, just pointing it out.)
Then again, Shell Blade is water-type regardless, and that one feels to me like it should be fighting-type if Miju became one since it’d be the actual “sword”.

Well, that’s another guy from the beta scan confirmed, all we have left is the starter evolutions…..

Blue Emerald

I’m hoping Miju’s final evo has a seashell shuriken. That’d be a sight to see! *not believing the unofficially confirmed evos until Nintendo reveals them officially*

I’m also expecting Pokabu to evolve into a Fire-Dark type, because I think that would go better with its supposed bomb motif better than the Fighting-type. And I agree — Fighting would fit a lot better on Mijumaru’s evolutions.

IX

Pokabu looks like a chineese demon, it could be dark after all.

Belmad

I hope so!

HikaruAyame

Is anyone here to comment on the character???!!!! LOL

I like the character design. If he really does own an Umbreon like on the beta sheet, I will be happy (Eeveelution!) and at the same time confused. Isshu is supposed to be very far away from the other places, and old Pokemon are supposed to be basically nonexistant, right? Well, episode four, in waltzes a character from Gen II. O.o Is he also from Kanto/Johto/etc? Did an Eevee get very, VERY lost? Did he order it on the Pokemon world’s equivalent of Ebay?

*sigh* Guess we’ll find out eventually. Or maybe not.

Manhattan

I just don’t get it… Sugimori specifically said that someone asked for Mijumaru’s evolution to be based off of a samurai. And he also stated that he would turn the shell ON ITS CHEST into a sword. He never said anything about putting it on its head. :s And the supposed Mijumaru3 evo has a horn, not a sword. =/

But seriously, if these starter evolutions turn out to be real… then I might not use my starter at all.
Usually, I would’ve gotten used to these evolutions by now, but I still hate them to death. …*Sigh* I guess it’s time to find a Pokemon that can replace Pokabu. u_u

BOB

Speak for yourself I Love the evos and it could be taken off its head and be used as a weapon

Giuseppe

If the Miju evo could stand up and use the horn-shell as a sword, the art would have shown it as a samuri, not as a unicorn.

Manhattan

I was speaking for myself. T_T
You have your opinion, and I have mine. And to me, it doesn’t even look like that Miju3 evo can even stand. Let alone hold a sword. XD

Ai

The issue I’m having though, is that he has flippers… with claws… not feet. It’d be impossible for him to stand on two legs. Plus, if he is a sea lion, the legs are far too long.

Giuseppe

I agree, things don’t add up. It isn’t bipedal, which means it can’t be a samuri (it can’t hold a sword), It doesn’t have a shell katana, and it doesn’t look japanese. And regardless of this, samuri would be a fighting type, not a pure water type.

I never believed the 3rd evo of Miju anyway, to many things were abrupt, it turned quadruped, grew a BIG shell on it’s head, grew a moustache and beard, got rid of the samuri top-knot and “clothing”.
Basically, it took everything from the second evo, which is real, and said “Just kidding!”

BOB

Whoa Calm down Charlie Brown and who said I said it stands up a uses its sword i thought it would put
its sword in its mouth like okami.I probally still knows shell blade by the third stage soo this could happen

are you serious? Those look like crayon drawings pasted over a magazine scan -.-

Blue Emerald

Also, I think I understand now why Ash’s rival is named Shoot. Not only does it refer to his hobby as a Pokemon photographer (as in “to shoot photos”), but a shoot is another name for a sprouting plant, which explains why he gets Tsutaaja.

Which makes me wonder: how is Dent’s name related to Grass-types? Usually, the name of a gym leader can give players a clue as to what type of Pokemon they use, but I can’t figure this one out.

Of course, if the names of the other two leaders in his gym just happen to be named Kent and Brent (or something similar), then that would mean the gym’s theme would just be triple-battling.

Ryuutakeshi

All japanese gym leader names are plants.

NL

Actually almost all the main character’s are based on a plant or the nickname for it

HikaruAyame

And his name isn’t Shoot, it’s Shooty/Shooti. With foreign words in Japanese, if they get a word that ends in ‘t’ or ‘d’, they use ‘to’/’do’ at the end of it. (Like Dento can be Dent) Since they didn’t name him Shooto, the vowel at the end is supposed to be there and supposed to be pronounced.

Blue Emerald

In response to the sword conversation, I’ve often heard that a sword should be treated as an extension of your arm, so the body is still considered a primary part of swordfighting.

Nomyt

This is true for all forms of weapon work. (Five years plus of training in Bujinkan Ninjutsu backing this claim up.)

Thexel

Another new from PxP:

Gear DOES evolve TWICE.

Hiro said that the 3rd stage is very similar compared to the 2nd one. He also said that Chillarmy’s evolution is also very similar to him. That is the reason why he find those 2 Pokémon the worst of the dex. X.x

ps- Pokejungle. Why don’t you post the proof of the autenticity of the starter’s evolutions?

Thexel

Also Basurao does NOT evolve.

BOB

Wait did he say if the grass type onion daycare pokemon evolve?

Thexel

It will be revealed today.

They are going to reveal 10 Pokémon each day (definitions or artwork)
So today we will end with the number 549. And tomorrow ’til 559 an it will continue like this until the 649 number.

Gear is the number 599, so we will have to wait to the description of its evolutions ^^

Joey

um yea… at that rate the games will be out before they reveal them all so yea… theres that.

Uyi

Does Chillarmy evolve or not? Contradiction >!<

Nomyt

What’s PxP?

If this is true. I like the sound of Gear now.

Thexel

PxP = Pokexperto

Chillarmy DOES evolve. But they say his evolution is to similar to him. What I mean is that he doesn’t change to much when evolving.
That is. Sorry if I didn’t explain myself.

Uyi

You’re not the one contradicting yourself. It’s everyone who is “leaking” info. I heard it doesn’t evolve. Then it does. Then it doesn’t and is a gimmick. Now it does. O_o

This is why some people don’t believe.

Thexel

Hiro always said Chillary evolved. The information may have been distorted before arriving you, which is very common.

Even Pokejoungle has posted bad interpretation’s of pokexperto’s quotes as true.

Pokemon that does NOT evolve include, Tabunne, Emonga, (those two don’t have a prevo as well) Swanna, Gochiruzeru, Rankurusu and Basurao (we don’t have information of any possible preevo of those already).

* I asume Rankurusu does not evolve, because they said Gochiruzeru don’t.

Nomyt

Ah, Thanks. It was just the PxP thing confused me for a second. Understand now you put Pokexperto.

BOB

What about onion daycare does he evovle and PXP stands for pokexpero

Thexel

PxP means Pokexperto, I’m sorry it is confusing.

And that onion question is going to be revealed very soon. But I asume it is obviously evolving.

Ai

Because they’re not confirmed until the 18th

Po

Really trying to not make a joke about Pikachu’s frustrations over not being able to perform.

Nomyt

I wonder if the last two fighting pokemon and these two grass type are going to be spilt into different games. So the fighting type with the plank and the sheep is in White, and Judo and sweede(I dunno what it is.) is in Black.

BOB

It would make sence since the two pyscic types are split maybe the two bugs 2 and wargle and swanna also

Nomyt

Gah, if that happened and Wargle was in white. I’d have a really hard time choosing to get either that or Gothdoll

BOB

If that would be the case i would think swaana would be in white cause it looks like a gentle pokemon and white looks gentle beacause of all the green forests and stuff and i think wargle would be in black just beacaue it looks like would belong their

He also defined Gear’s first evolution as a: “mixture of gears” (“Gear” meaning the thing, not necesarily the Pokémon)

Lily

I already knew he’d get Tsuutaja. xD

Poor Pikachu always seems to lose his electricity at the start of a new season.

NL

Apparently pokemon pia stated about mijumaru and how it’s evo’s may be.
“… We thought, why not mix a otter and a seal? We always wanted a twist in the evolutions, and impact.”

I’m sorry guys, I think the evo’s are turning out true. We’ll have to live with them.

Giuseppe

Um, no.
He also said make it wield a katana and make it a samuri.
PxP’s Miju3=/=samuri

Ai

Alright, as I like to draw and I am (I don’t mean to be vain but…) a great artist, I’m going to draw a Mijumaru final evo that DOES look like a sea lion mix, yet looks far different than Mijumaru himself and is a samurai. Talk to me on Deviantart if you have any ideas for it- http://airans-inferno.deviantart.com/

NL

Well than that means he’s wrong then, huh? this came from an official gamefreak magazine, why are you denying it?

Ai

What do you mean he’s denying it? He brings up a valid point. That THING is not a samurai. Yes, it looks totally different… but it is NOT a samurai nor does it weild a shell katana.

pokejungle

It does look like a sea lion though… :s

Uyi

I know by now that he’s probably telling the truth, he has too much backing up his info. But how did the Spanish guy a copy/rom of the Japanese game? And does he have Black or White ^_^ Probably both.

So yeah, kind of supports the claims as to why these might be fake. But his info is far too accurate and the Pokemon aren’t very Fakemon. Frankly, I give up now. I need a hobby.

NL

He said melkor or some guy at PｘP works at spanish’s nintendo power or something.

BOB

They say nintendo gave him an early copy and nintendo said he cant post the names or sprites.Some people say nintendo gave him the sugimori art,and some people say he is fakeing it

El_Sargento

[b]Spaniard[/b] guy[b]S[/b].

DKG

i cant wait for the games to be out not becasue i want to play them its because i cant wait till everyone shuts the f up and stops arguing and acting immature..if its not from a reliable source like coro coro or pokemon sunday or some thing like that then just dont take it seriously come on!

NL

It came from an official source. it’s over. the starter’s are true.
Melkor I don’t know.

DKG

what source?

NL

Pokemon pia, official magazine from gamefreak. Also confirmed it was New York.

DKG

and PJ i liked this site alot when i first stumbled upon it because there arent any arguments like other sites but now its becoming like them..but the site is still a really good one i check it at least sixteen times a day.

Belmad

“548: Grass Lady Pokémon. She wears a flower hat with crown. Big leaf on the back. Her dress is a leaf bulb, with 2 dark green leaves as arms”

Ai

So… essentially Roselia?

Belmad

Yes, Roselia counterpart.

Uyi

Sounds more like Bellosum. Sleepy time for me

BOB

Is that the daycare onions evo

Ai

Alright, something I thought of today. Was the move ‘Hydro Punch’ ever confirmed? If it was, then who learned it? And if Mijumaru learned it, how would he be able to punch with his third evo?

Random Anon

Although I’ve never heard of the Hydro Punch rumor, I agree that Miju3 is going to look odd using certain moves…

Well it’d actually be possible for that. Staraptor used Close Combat. I can believe those as A.) To use Metronome, all you have to do is wag your finger. Moving his wings from side to side shouldn’t be too much of an issue for Togekiss. B.) Drain Punch brings me back to Staraptor, who I believe uses Close Combat with his feet and beak. Togekiss (according to the anime) is able to move his wings enough that it would be able to punch.

Uyi

One last thing:

The only bright side I can see about the alleged evo typings is that I don’t have to evolve my Tsutarja. Since it apparently doesn’t gain another type, I can keep my Leavi cute and smug =)

HEY! tomorrow pokemon peer is released right? with the charmander squirtle and bulbasaur thing and the interviews with the pokemon designers and designers of the game… so we could get new info?!

Kriffix

In previous beginnings of new generations, people wonder why Pikachu isn’t uber-strong and not beating all the other rookies straight away. Up until now it hasn’t made sense but it seems like this time they will cover it.
Pikachu can no longer use his electric attacks, I wonder how long that’ll last for (it seems to be more than a couple of episodes). It explains the use of Iron Tail a lot in teasers and pics though.

BOB

Probbaly the whole season until they find Zekrom IDK that would give the story more of a plot though

Kriffix

That would be so interesting. I’d really like to see that happen, it’d be like Pokemon actually has a solid objective, trying to get Pikachu back his power!

Ash gets a Tsutaaja also, this one belongs to Shooti, I doubt they would even care to show him catch it. And we see that this battle with Shooti’s tsutaaja takes place in the FIRST episode, before Ash gets Mijimaru. Mijamru is shown in a preview fighting a Tsutaaja, this is probably the one Ash catches. They advertised that Ash catches them all in one of the previews, I guess to promote them for the games.

IceAquaJet

Yea I also think that Ash will get a Tsutaja,probably the female one that attracted Pikachu and the other one is Shooti’s

Winged Kuriboh

Now, I dunno if someone said this but based on the preview…

Ash MIGHT be given Mijumaru by Araragi after his Pikachu is unable to use his (YESH PIKACHUISMALE) electric attacks (Fridge Logic: WHAT IN ARCEUS’ NAME HAPPENED TO IRON TAIL AND QUICK ATTACK!? I’m pretty sure Pikachu has those attacks), if this anime is following the original’s footsteps, Ash might get Tsutaaja and Pokabu some way.

ok

But in the preview, didn’t they check up on Pikachu and realize it’s going to be fine? In Araragi’s lab, even.

pokejungle

It’s vitals were fine but then afterwards they realize Pikachu can’t use electric attacks anymore and have to find a solution

Peter

Thanks alot my favorite legendary for being a selfish douche.
I cannot believe I just said that.

Looks like they’ve made Pikachu the weak link AGAIN.
Sure he beat a Latios but he fainted afterwards, that jerboa needs serious redemption.
Hopefully in Episode 4 he could get a new move to somehow fix this oversight.

Bobby

Look what I just saw… Right before Pikachu gets struck by the lightning:http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/58/omgteamrocket.png
I took a screenshot of that… I noticed this on my iPod Touch while watching this video for the billionth time (I have no life)… Team Rocket on the left, Ash and Pikachu on the right, and THEY’RE FIGHTING OVER PIKACHU, WHO IS IN A NET… that part of the video made no sense ’til I paused it there.